Have you seen old pens and pencils and wondered if they were expensive? Depending on the age and manufacturer they are worth in the thousands of dollars.
The first fountain penmaker was Lewis Edson Waterman. The first fountain pen, considered a practical fountain pen, supplied its own supply of ink in a continuous stream in the 1880s. That makes Waterman pens some of the most valuable collector’s items on the market. You won’t find any of the original styles made, but there are some surviving notes from the 1890s. A very rare number 20 style that is worth around $1,000.
Other highly collectible Waterman pens include those designed with snakes coiling around them, gold filigree and rose and black patterns. Your eyes are also opened for Patrick Waterman’s style from 1928-30.
The next best collector’s pens are those by George S. Parker. Parker was a teacher. Calones made his students use them in classes and finally opened them in 1894.
The park’s most expensive stall is called Fortune Curve. The head has a curved ink reservoir preventing ink from flowing in and out of the nib without dripping. Which he did to the pockets of his disciple. A Parker Lucky Curve pen known as the Duofold Big Red is considered the most collectible piece and can also be valued at around $1,000. Other pens from Parker were women’s pens, a black pen often called the Black Giant and the Parker Vacuum. Vacuum, since 1932 it has been made with an adapted lead in the box.
The Conklin Company became the first company to make a pen filled with ink by pumping it through a nib from a bottle rather than a drip. This was done in 1903 and later by W.A. Schaeffer is perfect, who threw in a small bag for the ink pumps of the compressed metal.
One of Schaeffer’s great collector’s pens was a 2-inch long ballpoint pen made for women in the 1930s.
Weights of gold, silver, and even platinum were also made by Monte Blanco. These are made of solid gold and can go for $1,000-$5,000.
Circle pens and brush strokes are hard to find, but from the 1920s-30s are very valuable in good condition.
They are very important in working conditions. It should be run gently over dry paper.
Collectors of these antique and vintage ballpoint styles don’t care, but don’t despair like there are other collectors who only collect stall balls.
A ballpoint pen uses ink in a thick tube.
Milton Reynolds was the first to mass produce them in 1945. They were considered a miracle pen and sold 10,000 on the first day of release.
Other spring style factors to keep an eye on include Mable Todd & Dard and The Wahl Company. The Wahl company usually makes brushes, but they’re still creeping around.
Novelty pens and pencils are also collected. Some brushes are made over 1 foot long; others were wooden with the names of companies or events. Some even have celluloid clips.
If you want to pick up pens or pencils, flea markets, tag sales and eBay are good places to start. Many pen collectors make it a habit to go through old records and folders looking for a collectible pen. Pens are easy to find, so they look everywhere.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Collecting
